Six operators 'interested' in Beck Theatre as council makes last ditch effort to save beloved venue

A number of theatre operators are 'interested' in taking over management of The Beck Theatre, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands. Following a public spat with current operators Trafalgar Entertainment over operational costs, Hillingdon Council appointed a specialist consultant to find suitable operators for the theatre in Hayes.

In a statement released in October, the council revealed that unless an operator was found the theatre would close its doors on Monday, January 13. However it is now understood that six potential operators are interested in managing the venue, although it is unclear how many submitted proposals by yesterday's (Monday, November 25) deadline.

The interested parties visited the Beck Theatre site in Hayes on Wednesday, November 20, to meet with the consultants and Hillingdon Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jonathan Bianco. The representatives from potential operators explored the venue and engaged in discussions with the Deputy Leader and council officers about what needs to happen over the next 6-8 weeks.

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The consultancy group Blue Horizon, brought in by the council to support their efforts to find new operators, are expected to examine submitted proposals and make a recommendation to Hillingdon Council in the next few weeks. It is understood that the consultants involved with the efforts are 'incredibly optimistic.'

Once a recommendation has been made to Hillingdon Council, it is expected that the selected operator and the council will enter confidential negotiations and discussions about how to move forward with a deal to save the beloved theatre from closure. With just over six weeks until the current closure date, these talks are anticipated to be fast tracked in order to prevent the closure, in a process which usually takes several months.

Following these developments the 'Back the Beck' campaign group said: "It's encouraging to see such strong interest from multiple theatre operators. They recognise the Beck Theatre's significance not only as a key venue on the UK touring circuit but also as an essential part of our local community, enriching lives and providing a vibrant cultural offering.

"We are optimistic that at least one of these proposals will meet the criteria, paving the way for a seamless transition to a new operator after Trafalgar's departure on 13th January."

Hillingdon Council have maintained throughout the process that they do not want to see the theatre close, however these next few weeks will prove pivotal in meeting that goal.

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